What do you believe?

What do you believe that no one told you you HAD to believe? I have been asking people this question for a long time. Sometimes I get that proverbial “deer in the headlights” response along with “I don’t know.” Sometime the response is angry and I’m told I shouldn’t even ask the question. Sometimes it creates a response like I received the other day, “Gee. I don’t know. I’ve never thought about it.”

So I ask you, “What do you believe that no one told you that you HAD to believe?”

Let’s start with the big two: religion and politics

Have you searched the literature? Have you read the history? Have you searched your own heart? Or have you simply accepted what you were told as a child?

We are ________________! Fill in the blank with the religion or church you were brought up in if you were taken to worship on a regular basis. Do you still attend? Why? Have you stopped attending? Why?

Our Family has always been ________________. Democrat, Republican, Independent, Libertarian, or never involved. What does each one stand for? What’s their platform? Do you agree with all of it? Some of it? None of it but you’re reticent to change?

But what about YOU? Have you thought it through? Are there questions in the back of your mind or lurking in the recesses of your heart that make you a wee bit uncomfortable? Are you afraid to pull them out and look at them because you don’t want to upset someone? I’m not asking you to make an announcement to the world that you are thinking things through for yourself, I’m just asking you if you’ve taken a look. I’m not asking you to drop your beliefs. I’m just asking if you’ve thought them through for yourself.

What about other things?

What do you believe about:

Why you’re on the planet

Relationships

Sex

Education

Music

Beauty

Freedom

Patriotism

The woman’s role

The man’s role

The list is endless. You get the idea.

So, What do You Do

When something is irritating your peace of mind, do you find a quiet place and take a moment to look at it, turn it over and look at the other side? Do you ever ask yourself, “Where did this belief come from?”

How much have you been influenced by the media?

How much have you been influenced by your friends? Your family? Your enemies?

How much have you been influenced by your fear of what others might think?

How much have you been influenced by teachers, mentors, and others who only represented one side of things?

Is there a belief that you hold that you are willing to die for? What is it?

Is there a belief that you will defend if others challenge it, even if it puts you out of the mainstream?

Is it better to to agree with everyone and never make waves?

Would you rather be right or happy?

Just some things to think about on a Sunday morning (or any morning for that matter.)

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